Five-star FC Goa hammer Kerala

Striker Reinaldo struck a hat-trick as FC Goa hammered 10-man Kerala Blasters 5-1 to confirm their place in the semi-finals here on Sunday.

The visitors came from behind after Pulga’s second-minute opener and were eased into a thumping win after Josu saw red at half time. The result knocked Kerala out from the equation and they remain rooted to the bottom of the table.

Joffre cancelled out Pulga’s strike in the 12 minute and Reinaldo got the first of his treble in the 29th. The Brazilian completed his tally with tap-ins in the 50 and the 61 minutes, and Mandar Rao Deasi added to the tally three minutes later.

Ironically, Kerala made their best ever-start at home scoring from the first shot on target. Antonio German outran Mandar on the right and pulled back for Pulga, who caressed in at the near post.

Abandoning the diamond in midfield seemed to work for Kerala, but the visitors had more width and used it to nullify the hosts’ full backs for the equaliser.

Saumik was at fault as Debabrata swung in and Reinaldo, with a smart flick on the volley found Joffre, whose timely run and finish were elegant.

The lead arrived at the other end following a neat exchange between Mandar and Moura. The latter slipped in and Reinaldo deceived a clueless Saumik to finish with aplomb. Dagnall angled a shot wide and the crowd, less the 33,000 went silence.

Kerala made two changes at the break, exhausting their chances having replaced a poor Saumik with Ishfaq on 39 minutes. Vineeth and Mehtab substituted out Carvalho and Rafi as the hosts plotted for the counter.

But it were the visitors who took the advantage as Reinaldo had a tap in for his second inside five minutes. Goa smelled blood, feasting on Kerala’s soulless demeanour and two more fell in after the hour.

Reinaldo wouldn’t score an easier hat-trick as he stayed in space and calmly hammered as Kerala defence stood frozen, hoping for the offside flag on Sabeeth the provider. Mandar put the icing on the cake with a thunderous goal.